, 1887-07-14

C6ulIS luz GtlNSIlJ VI tue II lidLISCOLll~
mental railway system brought to
Ben Holiday an enormous fortune,
and he lived like lord on his estate
in the east OF later years adversely
in measure overlook him. though
his property in Portland is said to be
considerable.
"What assurance have we, if 1 call
congress together in special session
in October, that they will accomplish
anything" said President Cleveland
a few days ago to a member of con-
gress THAT is rather q strange
remark TO come from the executive"
said the congressman, boldly. You
are not responsible for what congress
may or may not do. Your duty in
the premises is ended in calling con
gress together. Congress must then
take the responsibility fer its own
acts. That there is public necessity
for an extra session is apparent. The
tariff needs reducing, and the con-
stantly increasing surplus in the
treasury is menace to the prosperity
Of the country" 1t is said that the
tone of the president was very decid-
ded that congress should do its work
at the regular sessions provided by
law. In the mean time the surplus
is piling up and the democratic
brethren have an elephant on their
hands.
A Washington special TO the S. F.
Chronicle says: Respecting the
charges against ex Collector Beecher,
Assistant Secretary Maynard says
that the matters referred to in Blake's
charges had been investigated and
settled Il always considered Mr..
Blake to be erratic and of unsound
mind" he said, land I know for a
fact that Blake was himself connected
with questionable proceedings when
he vas deputy collector The affair
Is an old story, and was concluded, so
far as the department is concerned,
many months ago" '.Blake never sent
charge or letter to this department
that did not receive full consideration
and investigation" said MIR. Martin,
chief of the special agents division.
Mr.. Blake, who was demented beyond
doubt, had a grudge against Mr..
Beccher, which finally became a
mania with him, and he deluged the
department with letters int anded to
hurt hlr. Beecher's standing. All
the complaints were looked into and
found to be without foundation. In
speaking of the case Secretary Fair
child said it was old and almost for
gotten.
Steps are being taken to have c. P.
Huntington, the railway magnate,
indicted by the grand jury of the
District Of Columbia, on the charge
Of the bribing of representatives and
senators Of the United States. The
precedent for this action is to be
found in the recent charge of Judge
Barrett to the jury in the trial of Jake
Sharp in New York. On that occasion
the judge stated that it was the first
time in the history of the country
that briber was indicted, and laid
the law that, in order to convict it
was only necessary to prove that the
bribe offered could be traced to the
accused, no matter through how many
hands it had passed intermediately.
In his testimony before the Pacific
railroad investigation committee in
New York last April, Huntington
acknowledged to paying out S. ,0O0,-
600 to members of both houses of
congress in order to explain" matters
connected with the Central Pacific
railway. The attorney general now
has the matter under consideration,
and it is believed that, before many
days, Huntington will be given an
opportunity to tell what members of
congress received this money, and to
explain why it was necessary to pay
out SO much money in the interests
of the Central Pacific railroad.
Ex-Colleector French of Alaska
gets in slap at Gov. Swineford of
that Territory. In an interview with
a San Francisco reporter he said:
There is not shadow of doubt
that Gov. Swineford does not MAIN
tain the dignity of his position He
is seen at all times of the day playing
poker in open barrooms and quarrel
ing with other members of the gov-
Ternment over their respective win
nings. Then they do not always
quarrel over cards, but change off and
have unseemly rows over their dig
mites. What most bestirs the worthless
up there is to go to congress, and
they are always quarreling as to which
one is most fitted for the Office of
representative when Alaska shall be
represented Swineford naturally
thinks that he ought to go. The new
district attorney says that he ought,
and the collector says he is the only
man who could do honor TO the nation
and they get SO heated i'll their argu-
ments that they generally break up
in row. Why, the entire burden OF
Swineford's last message was that
Alaska should be represented in Con
gress!
1t is said that Mr.. Blaine has per-